Promoting renewable energy careers to the next generation

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2 October 2024

RenewableUK has been partnered with Unifrog since early 2023 to connect with engaged students searching for their best next steps by providing them with valuable insights into careers in the renewable energy industry.

Together, we’ve provided several opportunities to young people across the UK, helping them discover and learn more about our industry and the amazing careers there are on offer for young people.

Background:

The Offshore Wind sector in the UK needs some 70,000 additional workers, most of whom will be skilled, to meet the pipeline of work through to 2030. Alongside this, meeting the target to double onshore wind capacity to 30GW by 2030 will create 27,000 jobs, making engaging with the next generation and future workforce absolutely vital.

Unifrog is an award-winning, online careers platform for young people deciding on their next steps after school, with a mission to level the playing field by providing them with opportunities to explore and engage with potential career paths.

Unifrog’s online platform is used by over 1.9 million young people from across the UK, with over 30,000 users searching out career and industry information every day. As well as by connecting students with employers and giving them experiences of the workplace.

How we work together:

RenewableUK has collaborated with Unifrog’s expert content team to develop a range of tailored materials, from careers guide to videos and even an online course: ‘An Introduction to Offshore Wind’.

Aimed at students aged 14 - 18, the course gives an introduction to the industry and equips young people with essential skills and knowledge about the various roles available to them in the renewable energy sector. Since its launch in July 2024, interest is rapidly growing, with almost 400 students starting it already.

Alongside this, RenewableUK members Equinor, North Star, Orsted, RWE, Siemens Gamesa, and Vekta Group have worked with us to create a series of career library videos showcasing different roles across the industry and career routes into them, helping young people picture themselves as a part of it.

Covering roles such as from Geologist to Marine Engineer and Sustainability Analyst, members welcomed the Unifrog team to facilities all over the country for a behind-the-scenes look at a ‘day in the life’ in the sector.

We are also developing a ‘know-how library guide’ outlining pathways into the sector and a clear roadmap of the subjects to choose and where these can lead. This will link to the ‘Careers 2050’ website which is currently being developed by RenewableUK and the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC).

Industry events:

We have welcomed groups of students to several major industry events, such as RenewableUK’s Global Offshore Wind this past June and more recently our Onshore Wind Conference in September, where we arranged a workshop on onshore careers in onshore wind and visited the nearby Crystal Rig Wind Farm, hosted by Fred Olsen Renewables.

These in-person events provide young people with the opportunity to meet apprentices, graduates, and industry professionals in hands-on career workshops where they can learn more about how renewables are produced and the diverse range of careers opportunities.

As part of our Global Offshore Wind conference in June, we invited more than 60 students from local schools in Manchester to attend an event sponsored by Orsted, our Strategic Skills Partner, and hear from various industry leaders whilst taking part in a workshop which gave them a firsthand look at the opportunities available in offshore wind, a rapidly expanding sector.

Feedback from students attending has been overwhelmingly positive, with everyone rating their experience at least 8 out of 10! The response makes it clear that events like this play a significant role in sparking interest and excitement about STEM careers among young people.

Looking ahead:

There are so many ways you can help to inspire the next generation of renewable energy professionals and empower students to pursue careers that make a difference, and we’d love to tell you more.

If you are interested in partnering with RenewableUK to take part in future student events, please get in touch with Evie Hoolahan, and if you would like to learn more about promoting the sector and your business to Unifrog’s 1.9 million active users, please contact John Hillis.